AFTER passing an early morning inspection following heavy rain on Tuesday, the weather cleared in time for this well-attended New Year’s Day fixture.

Just over a month on from his well-publicised split from Barry Connell, Michael O’Sullivan started 2025 in the best possible fashion by completing a 109/1 brace.

Partnering Embassy Gardens (9/1) for the first time, the Co Cork pilot guided this Sean and Bernardine Mulryan-owned nine-year-old to an all the way success in the feature O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase.

Bouncing back from a below par effort at the Punchestown Festival, the Willie Mullins-trained bay jumped well throughout and shrugged aside the challenge of Monty’s Star (4/5 favourite) from two out, staying on strongly to beat the market leader by five lengths.

“It was brilliant and he gave me a super feel. He jumped and galloped away and he’d have gone around again,” O’Sullivan remarked.

“We were hopeful coming here. Dave Porter and Georgia, who look after him, were very happy with him and he just got into a lovely rhythm.”

Fierce

O’Sullivan quickly followed-up on the Ted Walsh-trained Be Fierce (10/1) in the Mercedes-Benz Wexford Rated Novice Chase.

Carrying the colours of Michael and Anne Moran, the successful Fame And Glory eight-year-old tracked the leaders from flag fall and took closer order from two out.

Easing to the front after the last, the now dual course winner snugly accounted for well-backed market leader Splashing Out (3/1 from 13/2 early) by a length and a half.

“I rode him the last day at Gowran on his first run over fences on the track. That was over two-and-a-half and it was probably a bit far for him,” O’Sullivan reflected.

“I actually fancied him, but my only concern was the ground. He travelled and jumped so well today, and it just got him home.”

TALENTED amateur Josh Williamson registered the first double of his fledgling career, completing his brace aboard course specialist Rochestown in the Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at this very meeting 12 months ago and again successful here in April, the Brendan Walsh-trained 10-year-old came in for strong market support, going off the clear 7/4 favourite from early shows of 3/1.

Improving into a share of the lead from three out, the David O’Meara-owned bay soon gained an outright advantage and went clear after the next, keeping on well to score by six lengths.

“That was great. Cal Shine would have been riding him, only for he is suspended today,” Walsh reported.

“I got Josh then, as he is great value for the 7lb and he gave him a great ride. He jumped brilliant and we might go back over fences with him now. We’ll enjoy today first anyway.”

Opening

Williamson had earlier guided Gordon Elliott’s Machismo to a 25-length win in the Ryans Cleaning Services Maiden Hurdle.

The winner of a point-to-point on debut and without success in six track starts since, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old was returned a 16/5 chance.

Settled in second, the €28,000 Tattersalls Derby Sale purchase gained an outright lead before two out and soon shot clear, galloping on relentlessly to easily account for his nine rivals.

“He stays very well and he loved that proper heavy ground, he just kept plugging away through it,” the winning rider divulged.

“He’ll get a mark after today and I’m not sure what Gordon, Eddie (O’Leary) and all the team have in mind for him.

“I’m in sixth year in school, so I’ll finish that this year and see what way I’ll go.”

EMULATING his dam Maryiver, Maciver won for the second time at Tramore, when landing the concluding Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase.

Well-supported from early shows of 33/1, the Ivor Dulohery-owned eight-year-old was eventually returned at 12s.

Sent straight to the front by Cian Quirke, the 78-rated bay was still travelling nicely at the head of affairs, when nearest pursuer Aodhan May (6/4 favourite) refused at the last.

With the regular final fence bypassed due to low-lying sun, the Arthur O’Grady-trained victor ultimately eased to a 25-length win.

“I had never sat on him before and he had been disappointing for a while, but the lads were saying that if I had him revved up at the start, and if he jumped off, he’d have a right chance,” Quirke revealed.

“I had loads left going to the last and I think I would have beaten the favourite regardless.”

Mullins double

In the opening David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle, course bumper winner More Coko (6/4 joint-favourite) took this 15-runner contest.

The first part of a double for Willie Mullins, the bay victor was always close to the pace under Brian Hayes and got to the front before the last, asserting on the run-in to prevail by two and three-quarters of a length for owners Not One But Two.

“He is obviously very versatile regards the ground, it was very heavy today and good when he won here in August,” Patrick Mullins, who later rode in the bumper at Fairyhouse, said.

“We will just keep tipping away with him and he might head over to England for a novice hurdle. We’ll build him up slowly.”

Pillar to post

The following Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle went the way of Rockbrook, with this Philip Rothwell-trained 9/2 chance making every post a winning one.

Successful when last seen at Galway in October, the GVD Syndicate-owned eight-year-old jumped well throughout under Aidan Kelly and went clear approaching the last, extending his advantage on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths.

“Philip is not here today, but he rang me on the way and said if you can go out and make it to leave him bowl away in front, and he done it well in the end,” Kelly commented.

“That’s my first ride for Philip and it’s a nice way to start off. He finished out the race very well.”